Improvement in fire-proof columns



P, B.v WIGHT, 9 Fire-Proof Column.

.Effi`- t V Wi t messe/s y v f zzz/3796021 combustible material.

- tire length of the coluums.

UNITED-S'I1A'I3'Es PATENT OEEICE.

"PETER R. wIGHT, OE CHICAGO; ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALE HIS RIGHT To HARVEY R. MERRELL, OE MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY, AND Y THOMAS FERGUSON, OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN. Y

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF COLUMNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No." 199,887, dated January 29, 1878; application iileil December 21., 1877.

To all whom it may concern.- v Y Be it known that I, PETER B; WIGHT, of

`the city of Chicago, inthe county of CookA and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Proof Columns; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being vhad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a fire-proof post, pillar, or column which will resist not only the action of the fire in a burning building, but that of Water suddenly thrown on when the exterior of -the column is heated. lt is an improvement of a fire-proof column, composed of a core of iron, having three or more projecting flanges or webs, protected by a non-conducting and incombustible material, placed between the webs or iianges, and projecting beyond the exterior edges ofthese anges.

Figure lis a horizontal section, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my column, showing the core partially exposed.

In this column the exterior edges of the flanges are furnished with side flanges a, as shown, giving them the form of a letter T, and continued along the whole length of the column. The iron core may be of cast or wrought iron, or of both combined, and must be of sufiieient strength to carry the imposed load. The gores for protecting the core may be of porous terra-cotta, bricks of burnt clay, cements, concretes, or mortars such as are in general use, blocks of wood, or any non-conducting or in- The gores may be in short lengths, like bricks, or may run the en- They may be placed in position after being made, or made in position, in one continuous length from bottom to top of column. On the sides of the gores are grooves b, nearly correspondin g with the smaller iianges on the main anges of the iron core. On the exterior sides of the grooves, or toward thexterior of the Column, the material Of the gores projects over and partly covers the most exposed parts of the iianges 5 and the spaceslei't by two opposite gores are narrower at the exterior of the column than at the. outer surfaces of the iron flanges, leaving a receptacle, c, best calculated to contain a cementing material for the ,protection of the most projecting parts of the gores from the tar, or plaster, like common brick, so that the j edges of the smaller flanges are within the grooves on the sides of the gore-shaped blocks. Then cement, plaster, or grout is run in the interstices between the gores and the iron, filling both the grooves b; and when the gores have been set on opposite sides of any one T-ilange, the space c between the sloping sides of the gores is filled with cement or plaster, thus covering the exterior edges of the ianges out to a line with the exterior surfaces of the gores. Thus a column of slnooth exterior is formed, consisting of iron Within and a nonconductin g material on the outside of it, which is calculated to make the iron part of the co1- umn Stand secure against the effects of iire in any burning building. There are no interstices between the iron and the protecting material for the iire to penetrate. The hardening of the grouting material in the grooves and behind them, against the sides of the main flanges, enables the smaller flanges to hold the protecting material firmly in place, 'so that it cannot be displaced by any process except chopping it out in detail.

The Coherence of the material forming the gores, and its connectionwith the cementing material held over the most projecting part of the iianges and between the sloping sides of thev gores, forms the protection to the edges of the gores, which are the most exposed parts of the iron-Work.

Y In practice, if Woodenv gores are'used, Athey Y may be of the same length as ythe columns, and

may be driven into place from the ends before the columns are set. The exterior openings between adjoining gores may be covered with battens, Vandrthen the remaining interstices between the gores and battens 'on'the' one' hand and the Viron cores onthe other may bel' grouted with plaster or cement. Thefgores will be heldin place, as in other cases, by the Vsmaller flanges bearin g against the inner sides of the grooves in the gores;

"Where terracotta or concrete is Vused for Y the gores, the wholeV column mayhave an eX- terior coating of plaster, C, as a further :pro tection. Y Y Y tothe exterior edges ofthe flanges; Y also, that columns have been made having continuous T-shaped iianges.

1 VWhat Iclairn7 and desire to secure -iby Letters Patent, is-

1. Ina nre-proof Vcolumn constructed as described;v the protectinggoresV B., provided with the grooves b, as and for the purpose set forth. Y Y S Y 2. The combination of the grooved gores Vwith the continuous an ge c, when constructed and 'arranged as described. Y

V3..' The combination of the grooved gores -B and continuous anges a, when constructed and arranged as described, with the grouting VmaterialV llingthe interstices between the same, forthe" purpose of securing theV gores Y Y rinly in place, asset forth.

f4. The'eombinati'on ofthe cementing material' with the gores BV and the continuousV Tlshaped flanges, when Varranged. to fill the space between the saine out or near to a line with the exterior surfaces of the gores, as and for the purpose setforth.'

VIn' testimony Vthat-I claim the'forego'ing as Y S my'own I affix my signature in presence of Y Y two witnesses.V Y Y PETER'B.' WIGHT. Witnesses HENRYS; J AFFRAY, DANIEL?. WIGHT. 

